Awesome Reverence

Malachi 2:17 – 3:5

What are you most afraid of right now?  That is a question that can reveal so much if you are willing to answer it honestly. 

In our text this week, Malachi is prophesying God’s Word to the people of Israel.  They’ve been warned that they have a serious spiritual problem.  God calls out the lies that His people are believing.  Lies like these are causing them to not care about what God cares about.  But God speaks over the lies so the world can know for certain that there will be judgement on unrighteous living and injustice towards others and turn from their evil ways. 

Are you whole?  That question requires most of us to evaluate the first question.  The spiritual reality is most likely that if I am MOST afraid of anything other than not hearing and following the Word of God in my life then I am spiritually out of sync with what God cares about and it will result in a serious spiritual problem for me that can have lasting damage on others. 

As prophesied here in Malachi, the GOOD NEWS is that God promises to make a way for our soul concern to be that of hearing and following His Word through the coming and refining work of His Son.  The GOOD NEWS is that God can bring our hearts and minds in line with His Word through the purifying work of His Son.  When the Lord pours out His Spirit upon us and impresses His Word in us it will lead to life changing worship that will guide us and others to live according to His gracious way. 

What is God’s position in your life right now?  Is anything standing in the way?  What else in this world can stand against His Word?  What witness has been given so you can know that God has your best interest in mind? 

Spend some time right now asking God to help you be honest in asking and answering each of the above-mentioned questions.  May the results be such that our lives become a pleasing offering and living sacrifice for the only One worthy of our most awesome reverence. 

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon